Driver warning issued after increase of roadside kangaroo spottings in Knox

DRIVERS in Melbourne’s outer east have been urged to take caution on the roads after a spike in kangaroo sightings near traffic.

Carla Penn checks out 11-month-old Harley the joey, who was brought to Bayswater’s Warriors 4 Wildlife shelter after being rescued from a Wondong backyard. Pictures: Lawrence Pinder

KANGAROO sightings are on the rise in Knox, with drivers urged to take care on the roads.

Knox and Boronia police helped Bayswater shelter Warriors 4 Wildlife capture and release a 50kg kangaroo in Wantirna South on October 28, after it was spotted hopping across roads in front of traffic.

Shelter operator Carla Penn said police managed to corner the animal behind the Caltex service station on High Street Rd.

“He crossed High Street Rd once and obviously we were very concerned about him getting hit by a car or causing a car accident,” Ms Penn said. “We didn’t want him to hurt anyone or himself.”

Big roo nets, similar to tennis nets, to capture the roo before it was sedated, treated for several cuts, and released into nearby bush.

She said kangaroo sightings were definitely becoming more common in Knox, with the building of more housing estates forcing the animals out of their habitat.

A huge mob of roos has previously been spotted in Dandenong Police Paddocks Reserve in Rowville.

“The best thing people can do is just be careful at dusk and dawn and drive that little bit slower in the areas that kangaroos are coming from.

“Stud Rd is a really big one, a lot of them are coming from Lysterfield and Rowville, where those new estates are getting built,” Ms Penn said.

Parks Victoria last year ran a controversial culling program of roos in Lysterfield Park, with professional shooters killing 20 males after fears the large adult roos were growing in numbers and could pose a threat to children.

Warriors 4 Wildlife has been inundated with animals during the busy spring period.

Wildlife Victoria spokeswoman Amy Hidge said kangaroos being pushed into suburbia was an increasing problem.

“As the urban fringe habitats get taken away from them and they really are pushed out of their habitat and into suburbia, they don’t have anywhere else to go,” Ms Hidge said.

“It’s a really big issue because it’s a public safety issue as well, they can cause big accidents and people can be in the middle of it, not to mention of how stressful it can be for individual kangaroos.”

Ms Penn said spring was a busy time for the non-profit shelter, and they were caring for more than 100 animals, including birds whose parents had been hit by cars.

Ms Penn is looking for businesses to support the shelter. To help, phone [phone] or go to facebook.com/warriors4wildlife